summer at Lake Itasca

I have wanted to get up that way for a while now, and I AM going to make it happen this summer!

so a few Qs--in June, is there a better or worse time? my kids are done with school the first week, so i am thinking of heading up later that month.

Where is a good place to stay? My mom might be joining us and she doesn%26#39;t camp anymore, so that option is out. but hotels, resorts, cabins, etc, are things to check out.

anything else we need to know about this area at that time of year?

TIA!

-Paula

summer at Lake Itasca

EDITED TO ASK--

we do not mind staying a bit away from Lake Itasca either, if that opens up possibilities.

I do plan on buying the State Park pass, b/c of course we want to be able to go into the park and leave as we please.

Is Lake Itasca a town and a lake?

And how far are they from the state park?

summer at Lake Itasca

I can%26#39;t provide lodging help because most of my experience is long ago and at a private cabin.

But there is not much of a town any where arond there. If there is a Lake Itasca, it%26#39;s probably just a post office.

Inside the park is Douglas Lodge, but I think it is hard to get into in prime time.

Outside the park, your choices would include the resorts of Lake George (10 miles) and the towns of Park Rapids (20 miles) and Bemidji (30 miles). Use the features of Trip Advisor to start your research.

The park is special, and you HAVE to take your shoes off and walk across the Mississippi on the rocks.

June is a good time to go. You should see some orchids and other cool wildflowers, and it won%26#39;t be quite as crowded.

I%26#39;d pick Bert%26#39;s Cabins, in a lovely grove of red pines a mile from the headwaters, on Wilderness Drive. There%26#39;s a small heated outdoor pool for the kids, and you%26#39;ll save a lot of money on meals with one of their log housekeeping cabins, www.bertscabins.com.

Lodgings in the park book up fast, but there should still be some availability.

The newest lodgings are the Itasca Suites, near Douglas Lodge in two buildings that sit on either side of a large asphalt parking lot. There%26#39;s no view, but the suites are attractively furnished and have kitchenettes, cable TV and screened, concrete-floored porches.

The Douglas Lodge has suites that are very nice, but then you have to eat in the restaurant, where the food is okay but a little expensive. The two-bedroom Historic East Cabin has a fireplace, heat and air-conditioning. The Itasca Ozawindib Lake Cabin is a vintage place that%26#39;s very popular.

Housekeeping cabins sleep four and have a toilet but no shower. There are cabins of various sizes with no kitchen (some have fireplace and screened porch) and motel-style fireplace rooms.

You%26#39;ll love it. Just reserve soon.

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com